I'm shooting a spot next week where we're going to attempt to recreate
the vision distortions associated with people who have an sight disorder
referred to as Macular Degeneration. I'm hoping to accomplish two things
in camera (though we could probably do both in post if I can't find a
good solution) and was wondering if anyone has come across filters or
techniques that might help me achieve these effects.

The first is to "make straight lines appear wavy." I can't think
of any reason a filter to achieve this effect would exist, so I have been
trying to think of some type of glass object through which I could shoot
to get this look. Although with the disease, I think all straight lines
are affected, in this case I would be satisfied with simply breaking up
the lines on one axis.

The other effect is something that could be achieved with a filter that
was the exact opposite of a heavy version of Tiffen‘s Center Spot.
Here I need to recreate the vision of someone who has a very blurry spot
at the centre of their field of view.

I'm guessing that Tiffen could custom make this, but the job has neither
the time or money, so I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas out there.
Vaseline on the lens is certainly one way to deal with it.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks in advance for your help. FYI, I've made a 2003 resolution to stop
being such a lurker. But damn, some of you folks are so knowledgeable...

Rob Barocci
DP - NYC

Rob Barocci wrote:

>...was wondering if anyone has come across filters or techniques
that >might help me achieve these effects…first is to "make
straight lines >appear wavy.

A few years ago, for a movie titled, "Blink," Clairmont Camera
in LA produced a lens attachment using heat-warped plastic in a motion
control mount that created the type of distortion you are probably looking
for.

For the centre diffusion with a clear edge, you can certainly use Vaseline,
but clear nail polish has the advantage of being more durable in use.
You might also find this method allows a simpler form of distortion as
above, with some experimental texturing of the nail polish surface.

In both cases the materials applied are readily removable to re-use the
filter substrate.

Ira Tiffen
The Tiffen Company, LLC

Robert Barocci writes:

>I'm shooting a spot next week where we're going to attempt to
recreate >the vision distortions associated with people who have an
sight disorder >referred to as Macular Degeneration.

That doesn't give you a lot of time to experiment.

A number of years ago I shot a film for a Blind Association which also
attempted to simulate some of the effects of various eye diseases. From
what I remember there are a couple of forms of macular degeneration and
various stages with very different visual symptoms.>The first is to "make straight lines appear wavy”…

I'm pretty sure we used clear plexiglass which was heated and then bent
for one type of effect and then we also used water in a sandwich of glass
that could be squeezed to create another type of distortion. The two layers
of glass were held together with a strip of soft rubber attached to the
glass with silicone adhesive.

I can't remember which was finally used.

At the International Center for Photography (6th Ave and 43rd St.) there
is an exhibit of WeeGee's Trick photography and how he did it. You can
also see the Fox Talbot exhibit. I went to see the Fox Talbot exhibit
and didn't have much time to spend at the WeeGee exhibit, but I know he
used melted plexiglass to achieve many of his effects.

>The other effect is something that could be achieved with a filter
that was >the exact opposite of a heavy version of Tiffen's Center
Spot.

A small circle of Kodak Wratten ND gel stuck on an optical flat.

These filters are gelatin so a little moisture on the flat will allow
the filter to glue itself to the glass, f/stop and distance of the filter
from the lens will allow you to control the softness of the filter edge.
Then put whatever amount of Vaseline, etc. necessary on the other side
of the flat.

This way you can alter the diffusion without ruining the gel, or change
the gel density without disturbing the Vaseline.

Brian Heller
IA 600 DP

Rob Barocci wrote:

>I'm shooting a spot next week where we're going to attempt to
recreate >[...] vision distortions

Rob check out making up filters from this sort of thing :

http://www.pilkington.com/resources/texture2.pdf
I've used 4"x4" filters cut some something similar to the design
called 'Flemish' and it produced some lovely effects. The effect varies
greatly depending on f-stop, focal length & the distance between subject/lens
& lens/glass so it's worth playing about.

Come to think of it, the filters I used came from a rental house - it's
truly amazing what wacky 'one offs' are gathering dust in these places
if you bother
someone to look around for you.

All the 'inverted centre spot diffusion' ideas already proposed sound
like they'd work a treat - why not jazz up the idea by renting a lightweight
rain deflector (clip on style - for digi beta) and muzz up the centre
of that.

If you could figure some way to slow it down (they run DC if they're battery/camera
powered so dropping the supply voltage should do it) and your 'misting'
was off-centre or misshapen you'd get a pulsing to the soft spot.

Yours,

Tom Townend,
Cinematographer/London.

I think the plexiglass ideas are right on target, especially melting it
with blow torches.

You may want to try shooting via acrylic mirrors that you bend or play
a hairdryer over to distort the image.

I don't know much about the disease, but this will certainly give you
a strange feel especially when panning. Warped plexi has also produced
some interesting effects, and with a bit of skill in your workshop, you
should be able to obtain a certain amount of warp.

>The other effect (...)was the exact opposite of a heavy version
of Tiffen's >Center Spot.

Harrison make a complete line of spot diffusers with varying densities,
shapes and sizes. Most serious rental houses should have a certain number
of these available.

Good Luck

Danys BRUYERE
Dir Operations
Groupe TSF / Paris

>I think the plexiglass ideas are right on target, especially melting
it with >blow torches.

I had to make a "drunk filter". I tried about half a dozen things.

The best: Got some clear plexiglass cut in 4 x 6 inch sections.

Used a propane hobby torch and slightly melted them. Took many tries to
get the hang of it (too much and you can't see through it). I wound up
hand -holding the filters and moving it around very slightly in front
of the lens, while doing drive-by shooting of the Vegas strip lights at
night.

Worked great. Everybody loved it, although I don't think it would work
in day exteriors, it was the practical lights in the scene that made it
believable. The resulting show, Judgment Day, premiers on HBO's America
“Undercover”.

Jim Dollarhide
Director of Photography

O.k. - a few of my favourites for the distorted stuff.

Shooting through glass blocks. The type they use in construction for bathroom
walls, etc.

Shooting into plexi-mirror and then bending it around.

Shooting through an office supply magnifying sheet. There's a still of
this on my "Whatever Happened To Alice" feature page :

It looks like there are a ton of fun textures to play with there. I'll
let you know what ends up working for us. Though I'm certain I'll get
to shoot some of this, it may be that the client will end up using our
clean passes and create the effect in post. They're concerned with precisely
matching what patients with this disease see (as opposed to a more dramatic
interpretation) and want the option of dissolving in the effect in order
to illustrate the degenerative nature of the disease.

Either way, I get to play with blow torches, so I guess we all win in
the end.

Thanks again and I'll report back in a couple of weeks.

Rob Barocci
NYC - DP

>Haven't come across this filter. Found it listed on Optex's, and
Tiffen's >websites but can't see any stills of it in use.

This is a bit of a late reply to Jim's request, but due to pesky work
related endeavours, I got behind on my cml reading.

Tiffen actually does have an example of the WARM Center Spot on their
website (which will give you and idea of the standard version, but, well,
warmer).